POKEMON HAPPINESS GUIDE

Introduction

A hidden value from 0 to 255 called Happiness (also known as Tameness or Friendship) is given to all Pokemon in the game, determining how well you've tamed each of your Pokemon. For most Pokemon, this value merely determines the power of Frustration (your Pokemon has a low happiness value) and Return (high happiness). For a select few Pokemon, evolution can be achieved when the happiness value is maxed out and the Pokemon gains a level after achieving max-out of happiness.

Pokemon that Evolve from Happiness

The following Pokemon evolve by happiness. When their happiness quota has reached 220 or greater, they will evolve the next time they level up with experience or by Rare Candy. The timing of this is important for certain Pokemon, as they must be levelled up during a specified time.

Pokemon

Evolves into

Eevee

Espeon (Daytime)

Umbreon (Nighttime)

Chansey

Blissey

Golbat

Crobat

Togepi

Togetic

Pichu

Pikachu

Cleffa

Clefairy

Igglybuff

Jigglypuff

Azurill

Marill

Budew

Roselia (Daytime)

Buneary

Lopunny

Chingling

Chimecho (Nighttime)

Munchlax

Snorlax

Riolu

Lucario (Daytime)

Discovering Happiness

In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, a Pokétch app can be obtained from a brown-haired girl in Eterna City's PokeCenter. This application displays the Pokemon in your party. When you pin them down with the stylus, a certain number of hearts will appear to show the level of happiness that your Pokemon have. A Pokemon that is near max happiness will have two large hearts.

In HeartGold and SoulSilver, there is a woman in Goldenrod City who can be found just north of the Bike Shop on the east side of town. She'll give you a general idea of how happy you're Pokemon is, but she won't tell you your Pokemon's exact Happiness quota. Here are the things she says:

"It doesn't seem to like you at all. It looks mean.": Happiness Quota: 0-49

"You should treat it better. It's not used to you.": Happiness Quota: 50-99

"I get the feeling that it really trusts you.": Happiness Quota: 200-249

"It looks really happy! It must love you a lot.": Happiness Quota: 250-255

You can also get a rough idea of your lead Pokemon's happiness by talking to it in the overworld.

Base Happiness

Each time you catch, hatch or trade a Pokemon, its Happiness quota will be reset to a certain base value depending on what Pokemon it is. However, Pokemon caught with the Friend Ball will start off at a happiness level of 200.

Affecting Happiness Positively

There are only a certain number of ways you can affect your Pokemon's happiness, and each way has less of an effect as your Pokemon gains more happiness. Giving your Pokemon a Soothe Bell will increase the rate at which their happiness rises by 50%, and Pokemon caught with a Luxury Ball will get double the regular points when you level-up, walk, or use them in an important battle. Anyway, here are all the methods of affecting happiness:

Raising Happiness:

Walk 256 steps with the Pokemon in your active Party. (+1 for all happiness values)

The Haircut Brothers in Goldenrod City can raise your Pokemon's happiness between 1 and 10 points depending on your Pokemon's reaction after the haircut

Affecting Happiness Negatively

I don't know why anyone would prefer their Pokemon to be unhappy instead of happy unless you want the Pokemon to hate you anyway, because Frustration is basically the same as Return, but it's much harder to maintain unhappiness, and your Pokemon don't evolve for it, either.

Decreasing Happiness:

The Pokemon faints in battle. (-1 for all happiness values)

Use of Energypowder (-5 for values 0-199, -10 for values 200-249)

Use of Heal Powder (-5 for values 0-199, -10 for values 200-249)

Use of Energy Root (-10 for values 0-199, -15 for values 200-249)

Use of Revival Herb (-15 for values 0-199, -20 for values 200-249)

As mentioned before, trading your Pokemon will reset its happiness to its base value, so be warned.

Myths of Happiness

There seemed to be a number of things thought to affect happiness that really don't mean anything at all in the game. Only the things mentioned above affect happiness, postively or negatively. But just in case you need things spelled out for you, the following factors do not affect happiness:

Putting a Pokemon in the PC (Come on, would that really be fair? You can only have 6 Pokemon with you at a time.)

Healing the Pokemon when weak and injured.

Giving a Pokemon a hold item (Other than Soothe Bell).

Using a Pokemon in battles (save level ups).

Winning battles with a Pokemon (again, save for when it gains a level).